Hen&#39;s nest.



SMQ/nio@ ff @L www H. C. HAZLEWOOD.

HENS NEST.

APPLICATION P ED APR. 1s, m3,

-. an sTATEs Partnr FFME.

HGRACE C. HAZLEWOOD, F BISBEE, ARIZONA, ASSIGNOR DF ONE-HALF T JESSE Il.

KING, 0F BISBEE, ARIZONA. v l

HENS NEST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented nee. 15, i914.

Application med April 18, 1913. Serial No. 762,002. Y

To ail whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HORACE C. Hazmwooo, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bisbee, in the county of Cochise and @tate or' `Alemana, have invented new andy useful Improvements in Hens Nests, of which-the following is a specication.

The present invention relates to nests for hens.- l

o In carrying out the invention it is my purpo to provide a hen nest which is arranged between the henezy and the poultry run-,axthe'neet forming the entrance to the run and beinglso constructed as to permit 16 of Vthe hen entering the nest but .preventing her :'om passing to the run until after an egg has been deposited within the nest, vand thus providing meanswhereby the poultrymancan readily .i the lay- 2G ingr-hens from the inondayom -tnother object of the invention is the proof `a. nest which forms an entrance -.between a hennery and a run, that shall be provided with oppositely arranged doors, 1li 4:one at the'entrance to the nest and the other at theem't from the nest, the entrance door being normally open, but which will close,

automatically when the hen enters the nest, '.thesaididoorhowever, remaining unlatched ylllliriaoas 'to permit the hen rentering the hennary when she does not desire to lay an egg, the closed door also preventing the entrance o more than one hen to the nest; the exit door being normally retained in a. locked po- 'sition until after the hen has deposited an egg within the nest, when the said door will become unlatched to permit of the hen passing from the nest to the run; the weight lci the hen upona platform arranged adjacent the exit door actuating mechanism which will automatically open the entrance 'door and lock the outlet door.

With the above recited objects in view, f and others which will appear as the descrip- 'tion of the invention progresses, the improvement resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts se eforth in the following eciication, and alling within the scope ospthe appended claims. ln the drawings, Figure l is a view illustrating the arrangement of a plurality of trap nests between the hennery and a runway. Fig. 2 is an end view of the trap showing the position'. of the entrance doors before the hen enters the nest. Fig. 3 is a similar view but looking toward the opposite end of the nest. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the arrangement of parts when the hen is-seated uson the nest. Figl 5 is a similar view showing the arrangement of the parts after the hen has deposited an egg. Fig. 6Ais a similar sectional View illustratingthe manner in which.

the entrance doors are opened when the hen Y passes out of the nest. Fig. 7 is a horizon,-

tal sectional view taken approximately on` the line of 3. Fig. 8 is a central vertical transverse sectional vView through the nest. Fig. 9 is a detail viewillustrating the manner of hingedly'connecting one of the entrance doors to the nest.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the numeral l designates the hennery of a poultry yard, and 2 the poultry run which is divided from the hennery through the mediuin of a fence 3. Secured upon the fence 3 and formingv a passage between the hennery and the runway are a plurality of trap nests 4. -Any number of these ,may be employed, but as all of the said nestsare of a similar construction only one of the same will beY described in detail.

Each of the nests 4 comprises a substantially rectangdlar housing having open ends 'and preferalily having its lower floor inclined. The openlend which forms the en- I trance to the'nest and which' is arranged adjacent thefhennery Ais partially closed through the medium of a transversely arranged strip 5. The sides of this end are provided with sleeves 6, the same being se cured to the sides of the nest in any desired or preferred manner, and each of the said sleeves is, approximately centrally, provided with an outwardly inclined slot t7. Arranged Within each of the sleeves and extending both aboveand below the same is a rod member 8, each of which provides a pintle fora door 9. Connected one with each of the rods 8 and with each of the doors 9, and extending thrugh the inclined slot 7, is a pin l0, the same riding upon the lower wall provided by the slot 7 in the sleeve 6. Each of the doors 9 is of suilcient weight to cause this pin l0 to lrevolve the rod 8 to rotate each of the doors to aclosed position.

-The two' doors 9 are not or" a suiiicient'widthto entirely close the entrance tothe nest, the adjacent edges ofthe doors terminating asuitable distance away from the center of lli) the nest. This is desirable in order to permit of the proper ventilation of the nest, as well as to permit a light opening, whereby a hen not depositing an egg within the nest may return to the hennery.

The opposite or outlet end of the. nest 1s f also provided with a pair of hinged doors 11 and 12, the said doors, or the hinges of the doors being provided with suitable springs A for normally retaining the doors in a closed position. These doors also do not fully close the end of the nest to which they are attached, the adjacent edges of the doors .at the upper portions thereof being formed with rectangular depressions rendering the space between the doors sulicient to permit the hen passing her head therethrough. It may here be stated that the springs of the hinges are comparatively weak, so that the doors will yield to a slight amount of inward pressure thereon The end provided with the doors 1l and 12 is also partially closed through the medium or a strip 13, the same being arranged in a plane approximately parallel to the connecting member 5 of the entrance end of the nest.

Arranged within the receptacle is a substantially rectangular nest frame 14, the .same being provided with a bottom portion 1,5 which has a central opening 16. The frame has its upper portion arranged approximately in a plane with the connecting or dividing members 5 and 13, and the top ofthe frame is provided with a coating of -soft material, such as burlap, which is connected to the upper edges of the frame, and slopes downward-ly tol the central opening 1n the trame. between the sides of the housing through the medium of a longitudinally extending rod 17 which psses through .openings in the side of the nest which are arranged adjacent the connecting member 13. It will be thus noted that the fralne is pivoted ec- 1 centrically 'of the h ousin, and the inner weighted end of the said frame has attached thereto angular bracket members 19 and 2O which have their outer arlns4 arranged adjacent the outer face of the-,connecting member 5, and' which have theirupper extremities flanged outwardly as at 21 to provide lips which are arranged directly below the lower ends of the pintles S on the doors 9. The downward swinging of the weighted end 'of the nest is limited by suitable stops S secured to the sides of the/housing. The

nest frame is also provided with bars 23 and 24 which extend below the connecting member 13 of the nest and have their portions extending beyond the nest connet"'^d with a platform 24:. lt will be noted 1 when pressure is exerted upon the platte in 24 the members 19 and 2() will be swung 'apwardly sothat their lips 21 engaging with wardly as The nest rameis pivoted' the ends-of two link'members 43, thee links being disposed in the path of con.

Llanes-ie doors 9 to travel upwardly within the inu clined slots 7, and thus swing the said doors to an open position. 'ya Mounted within a suitable bearing 35 which is arranged centrally of the member 5 of the housing is a latch 26. Thislatclzi 2G comprises a substantially T-shaped mehr ber, the upper arms of which being noi mally sustained below the lower edges ot" the. doors 9, but which, whenthe said is moved upwardly will lie within the path of contact of the said doors and thus prej vent the opening of the doorsf Fivotally connected with the lower portion of the latch 26 is a longitudinally extending arm 27, the same being provided with en adjustable weight 28 and thisv arm is connected with a substantially rectangular yoke 29 as. which is pivotally connected between the' sides of the nest through the medium of: a` I shaft 30. The rectangular yoke 29 is provided with 'a rod extension 31, the .said est tension being pivotally connected as 32 so with a vertical arm 33 of a latch member for the doors 1l and l2 of the nest. This latch member is mounted in a suitable bearing 34 l and has its upper portion provided with of which 'are bent downwardly and outat 26. This latchv is adapted '1o be normally sustained above the lower edges of vthe doors 11 and 12 through lthe medium of the weight 28, to prevent the 'opening o said doors. The' rectangular yoke'29 is ranged centrally of and below `the opening of the nest frame, and has connected thereto a reticulate'd downwardly inclined basket 3'? whichhas its outer end open. los.

Thev open end of the basket is normally closed through the medium of a gravity gate 40. The gate proper is bent to provide a serpentine or a plurality of substantially Ushaped connected membersBQ, the said 11i@ portion 39 being arranged a the open end or mouth of the basket, and the said gate is provided with rearwardly extending side arms 41 which are arranged to the opposite sides of the basket, the said' arms, adjacent Ms their endsbeing extended outwardly, that is. being bent each toward one of the sides ol the housing to provide what I will term contact portions 42,'said portions being disposed below and in a plane with that of the il shaft 30. The ends of these portions 42am i bent upwardly and have their extreuiit' i loosely coiled around the shaft 3U. ...f loosely arranged upon the-shaft 3Q is on:

with the portions ,42,70 the` arme o.. basket.- and the ends of said linke flie f loosely connected thereto one of the ends longitudinally extending rods 16 and it?, i

.menace to drop through the central opening of the nest frame to within the reticula 'basket'.

The weight of the egg is suicient to tilt the yoke 29 and thelatches connected with the arms associated therewith `to which the latches are attached, sons to cause the latch 26 to lock the doors 9 and to slide the second latch out of the path of contact with the doors ll and 12 to permit of the tree opening oi the said doors 11 and l2. l/Vhenhthe han forces the doors 11 and l2 open,- against the tension of their spring hinges,"the arms 46 and' 47 connected thereto will swing the links' 43 to cause the same to contact with' the portion l2 of the side arms of the gate, toy swing the said gate upwardly ali the open mouth of the basket and allow the egg to slide from the basket to a suitable re ceptacle provided upon the lower inclined iioor of the nest. When the hen steps upon the platform 24 the nest frame will be swung about its pivot 17 and cause the lips of the members 19 and, 20 to engage with the` will swing the same to a closed position, the

inclined ends of the catch for the doors permitting of the lower ends of the doors passing the said catch, while the weight 28 will swing the latch 19 into lockedfposition, and the latch or the doers 9 out o engagement with the same.

Having thus described the invention, what l claim is: `v

l. ln a device for the purpose set forth, a housing having open ends, doors for par tially closing the ends, spring means for retaining one of the doors closed, a hinge for the second door, said hinge including a sleeve which is connected with the housing and which is provided with an angular slot, a rod within the sleeve and extending below the same, a pin secured to the rod and passing through the slot and connected with the door, a nest frame pivotally secured within the housing, a bracket upon the nest frame underlying the proiecting end of the hinge rod, a platform arranged adjacent the exterior of the housing and connected with the nest frame, and adapted, when a weight is placed upon the said platform, to tilt the frame, to bring the bracket into contact.

with the projecting end of the hinged rod to force t e same within the sleeve and to housing having open ends, doors for partially closing each of the open ends, spring means upon one of the doors for retaining 'the same in a closed position, a hingefor the second door including a sleeve having an inclined slot, a rod loosely positioned within the sleeve and having one end projecting through the sleeve, a connection between the rod and the door, a pin connected with the door and passing through the slot and secured to the rod, a nest frame within the housing and pivoted adjacent the spring door thereof, a bracket connected with the nest-frame and having a lip portion which underlies the projecting end of the rod, a platform arranged adjacent the exterior of the housing and connected with the nest frame. andA adapted when a weight is arranged upon the said platform to bring the lip. of the bracket into engagement with the rod to move the same within the sleeve to cause the pin connection between the sleeve Vand the rod to travel within' the inclined slot of the` sleeve to actuate the door, latch members ior the doors, a weighted connection ,between said latch members to retain one of the latch members in lookedposition with relation Vto one of the doors and the second latch member out of locking position relation to the second door, and means 'for actuating' the weighted connection thereby reversing the arrangement of the latches. v

3. ln a device for the purpose set forth, a

rectangular housing having open ends, doors' for the ends, spring means for normally closing one of the doors, a nest frame Within the housing and pivotally secured to the sides thereof adjacent the spring closed door, a platform connected with the nest frame and arranged beyond the end of the housing provided with the spring pressed door, means including mechanism arranged between the nest frame and the second mentioned door for opening the said door when a pressure is exerted upon the platform, a nest Within the nest frame, said nest and frame. having each a central opening, a transverse shaft connected with the sides of the housing below the nest frame and adjacent the opening thereof, a yoke member upon the shaft and provided with an inf clined basket which has an open end, rody extensions for the yoke, a weight upon one of the said extensions, latch members connected with thel ends of the rods and disposed adjacent the doors and adapted to cooperate with the said doors to normali)7 retain the spring actuated door in a locked po-I sition, and the second door in an unlocked position, the latch for the spring -pressed door having a downwardly and outwardly' inclined upper face whereby the said spring door may tilt the latch when closed b vits.

spring, a gate for closing the openniouth of the basket, said gate having side arms provided with odset Contact portionsand ends hingedly connected with the shaft, depend ing links loosely connected with the shaft and arranged within the path of contact of the Contact portions of the arms of the gate,

i and rod connections between the links and the spring pressed door.

Ll. In a hen"s nest Aof the class and for the purpose set forth, a box having openingsv j adjacentthe outlet thereof, bracket members connected with the frame, and arranged to contact with the pintles of the entrance door, a basket having an open end pivotally secured4 below the opening of the nest frame,

longitudinally extending arms connected with 'the basket, vertically arranged latch members connectedwith the arms and. ds.

,posed for engagement with the doors, a

weight on one of the arms to swing the arms and basket to bring one of the latches into. c

engagement with the' entrance door, the frame adapted a weight is arranged upon the same to tilt and bring its brackets out of engagement With the mit the entrance door closing by gravity,

pintles to pera member normally closing the open side of the basket, aconnection between-'this member and the outlet door adaptedto brin the same away from a basket when the sa-I outlet door is swung to an open position, and means comprising an mdependent weight adapted to be arranged within the basket to tilt the said basket and arms to bring one' of the latchesfout with the normally locked door, and the'secof engagement ond latch into engagement with the nor# mally unlocked loon-angl means connected,

with th frame for returning all ofthe parts to their initial positions.V testimony whereof I ailx my signature in prcsence'of two witnesses.

Witnesses: A, y BRUCE Y,

I. W. W

v ALLacn. 

